Nadia Ponte

What was the best thing about your course?

The best bits of my course would have to be the variety of projects we got to work on - a mix of report writing, themed projects, and live project designs.

Tell us a bit about your job role

I am currently working for an interior design company that specialises in designing for the health and wellbeing of their clients, which includes designing for those with dementia, such as care homes and residential projects. The job role mainly includes designing spaces with the concepts of colour, furniture and circulation in mind. I specifically focus on the design side, which involves the use of Sketch-Up and AutoCAD to present theme designs to the clients, along with going to client meetings to build mood and sample boards.

What are the top three things Solent taught you?

Solent taught me a lot throughout the three years. Primarily, time management, via all the units the course provided - with help from my lecturers and friends, it all combined to shape and strengthen me - and set myself deadlines, which is vital for the industry. Secondly, I learnt how to be more independent. Thirdly, Solent taught me how to research properly – it's a highly valued skill in many professions and, with the support of the job I took on at Solent as an architectural research assistant for the new sports building, my research skills have developed hugely and have opened up an interest in the academic world of interior design.

What advice would you give to someone wanting a career in this area?

Keep yourself up to date with all deadlines, as it will not only help you along your course journey, but also in the future in the industry, as organising your time management is a key skill which employers require. But most importantly, enjoy yourself at university – it’s an experience like no other.